Indiana Pacers extend unbeaten run
The Indiana Pacers remained unbeaten with a 95-79 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, thanks largely to 23 points from Paul George and a career first triple-double for Lance Stephenson.
Indiana became the NBA’s seventh team to open 8-0 since 2000 – two more wins than the franchise’s previous best start.
Stephenson finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high 12 assists. George Hill scored 13 points and Roy Hibbert added five more blocks to his NBA-leading total.
Marc Gasol had 15 points and Zach Randolph 12 for Memphis.
Charlotte Bobcats coach Steve Clifford, in his first game back since a heart procedure, saw his side lose 103-94 to the Atlanta Hawks.
Al Horford scored 24 points for Atlanta as the Hawks, trailing by nine at half-time, outscored the Bobcats 34-16 in the third quarter.
Jeff Teague had 14 points and 12 assists, while Cartier Martin chipped in with 16 points.
Josh McRoberts led the Bobcats (3-4) with 19 points and seven assists in what was Clifford’s first game since having having two stents placed in his heart.
Celtics beat Magic
The San Antonio Spurs cruised to a fifth straight win over the Philadelphia 76ers by a colmfortable 109-85 scoreline at the Wells Fargo Center.
Danny Green led the Spurs with 18 points, Tony Parker scored 14, Kawhi Leonard 13 and Marco Belinelli 12 for 7-1 record off a fifth straight victory.
The Sixers (4-4) had Evan Turner to thank for 20 points, Spencer Hawes contributed 17 points and 13 rebounds and Tony Wroten had 13 points.
Avery Bradley scored 24 points as the Boston Celtics beat the Orlando Magic for the second time in four days, this time by a 120-105 scoreline.
Kelly Olynyk, Jordan Crawford and Jeff Green all scored 16 points for Boston, giving first-year coach Brad Stevens a fourth straight win to follow as many defeats from a poor opening to the season.
Orlando lost a 16th straight road game despite Arron Afflalo having 18 points and seven assists, Victor Oladipo scoring 17 points and Nikola Vucevic 15 and 10 boards.
The Chicago Bulls were 96-81 winners over the Cleveland Cavaliers as Derrick Rose scored 16 points before leaving with an apparent injury.
Carlos Boozer scored 17 points and reserve Mike Dunleavy Jr. added a season-high 16 for Chicago.
The Houston Rockets defeated the Toronto Raptors 110-104 but needed a second period of overtime to do it.
The Denver Nuggets beat the Utah Jazz 100-81, the Portland Trail Blazers won 109-103 against the Detroit Pistons and the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 109-107.
